Souls That Need Each Other
Chapter One: What's Your Name?
By: Kichara
***
Disclaimer: Beetlejuice ain't mine, he belongs to one of my own personal gods, Tim Burton. Also, this fic has lotsa angsty stuff in the beginning that will come in from time to time, should be handled carefully, not read while operating heavy machinery, having sex, starting a mongoose-dog farm, or getting your hand dipped in wax at the fair. It should also not be read by men, women, children, senior citizens, corn nuts, epileptic people, Hot Topic stickers, lawn gnomes and several species of squirrels. You've been warned!!! *is hit by a herring* *Looks up.* Man, my serious titles always sound SO corny. *eats herring*
***
"You stupid brat! Get the hell out of here!" She ducked just in time to avoid the plate that came spinning at her head, closing her eyes tightly and whimpering in fright as she heard it shatter, shards of glass raining down on her tiny shoulders. "You little bitch!" He lifted her up by her long mess of blonde hair, causing the child to scream in pain and fear, kicking away instinctively from him.
A sharp jolt of pain against the side of her face made her gasp and open her eyes in surprise, widening as she took in his too-perfect face, twisted in fury. 'He smells bad again.' She realized suddenly, her tiny snub of a nose wrinkling up in distaste. He tossed her to the floor, thundering, "Go to your room!"
She did so as fast as she could, retreating from the harsh noise. Upon reaching her destination, she quickly closed the door, tiny fingers twisting the lock and then climbed up onto the bed, wrapping thin arms around her knobby knees and rocking back and forth, humming to herself. 'I don't like it when he smells bad. And Mother too, but she has a different kind of bad smell.' Her mother was as beautiful and perfect as her father. The little girl could see her now, her long blonde hair falling gracefully to her shoulders, bouncing slightly as she'd walk out of her room, traces of smoke trailing from the open door in her wake. The girl heard her father shout, smashing the walls of the hallway. She curled up tighter, eyes widening as she realized he was coming towards her room.
The door slammed open, his figure a daunting shadow in the frame. The child on the bed crouched, frozen in fear as he half-stumbled to her, his words sounding strange as he spoke, "You lil' brat, you can't do anything right, can you?" She squeaked in response, not knowing what he was talking about. "I want to go out with your mum, but she sez we can't, cuz we got you." He loomed closer and she shrank, waiting in fear for. The impact sent her flying off the bed, smashing into the wall. Her father came towards her crumbled figure and she saw his hand raise again, the other fist clutching a dark bottle, and she suddenly sprang to her feet, ducking the blow by instinct, and bolted out the door. She ran down the hall, out into the living room and then ran out the door, going faster as she heard him yelling behind her. 'Run, run, get away. I'm scared!' Her own frantic words sounded in her throbbing head as she grabbed a hold of the front door knob, fumbling in her fear for a moment before she managed to get it open and run outside into the night.
Her feet, clothed only in a pair of socks, hit the sidewalk and she ran across it, across the empty dark street, and ran through the neighbor's yard, past the yard, into another and another, finally collapsing on a strange lawn that she didn't know, clutching her throbbing chest and gasping for air through sobs that wracked her body. The little girl lay there for a long time before she was finally able to stop crying and sit up. 'I don't know where I am, but it's better than being 'there'.' She mused to herself, standing up and starting off into another run. She knew she was moving further and further into a place she didn't know, all the houses around her unfamiliar, but all it meant to her was that she was getting father and farther from 'there'. After a long time, she finally fell, exhausted, in the tall grass of an empty lot, comforted somewhat by the soft grass and the little tickling as insects skittered across her skin. 'I don't wanna be there, don't wanna be there, don't wanna.' Her thoughts broke off as she slipped into a deep slumber.
The silent words and the strong will that spoke them did not go unheard.
Large black eyes opened, settling on the sleeping girl and a thin pair of lips sighed painfully, then pursed in thoughtfulness before dematerializing. It was a spirit, a wandering soul that liked to spend her time drifting among the living, finding fulfillment in helping when she could. And she wanted to help now. Unseen hands drifted to an invisible chest, clenching together in thought. 'I need to send her somewhere, to someone that needs her as much as she needs them. Things can be worked out from there.' She reached out, searching for such a soul, unknowing of names as she searched, who they were or where they were, only needing to find that particular soul that. "There." She realized aloud, the word only the faintest whisper carried by the wind, as her mind caught onto the soul she was looking for.
The spirit drifted closer, her hands materializing as she reached for the little girl, whose pale face was highlighted by the faint shimmer of the sun that was beginning to light the sky. Long, slender fingers touched her cheeks; the face becoming more highlighted as a glow surrounded the spirit, her lips murmuring words of a spell. Incredibly strong powers that were usually dormant were brought forward now, filling the air around the two. The little girl began to fade, her body disappearing until all that was left to say she had been there was some bent grass that was slightly warmed from her body heat.
The spirit faded again, her energy spent, and she drifted off, exhausted. She quickly found a place to rest the attic of a family that had gone on vacation and immediately curled up in an old trunk, smiling to herself as she melded into dreams. 'May you find happiness, child.' She thought, and almost instantly fell asleep.
***
The loud shrill of the alarm woke the room's slumbering figure, who groaned in protest, reaching out to grab a hold of the clock and pitch it across the room. It made a funny crunching noise as it made close contact with the wall, it's noise finally stopping. The figure yawned loudly, stretched languidly and sat up in the coffin-bed. He fisted his eyes as he got up and trudged sleepily across the bedroom floor and into the bathroom, where he splashed cold water on his face. More awake now, he grinned at his reflection for a moment, heading out of the room and through the house, intent on going to get the paper as he opened the front door.
However, the plans were cut short at the sight of a tiny creature on his front lawn. His eyes widened immensely in surprise and he moved close, realizing it was a little girl, about five or six years old. Her body was curled in on itself, and there were long tangles of blonde hair spread across her face and trailing over her hand, a tiny fist clutching a few blades of brown grass. Her snub of a nose wrinkled as she began to wake up, then her eyes opened and she blinked. She sat up quickly, looking around her and then up at him, taking him in with thoughtful emerald-green orbs.
He was tall, and lanky, with an exceptionally pale face that was blotched with darkness, his eyes ringed in black. Wild, green-yellow hair stood up on it's own from his head and one of the eyebrows that were the same color were raised in confusion as he bent over slightly to look her in the eye. He was dressed in a pair of black pajamas that were littered with an army of white spiders.
The girl sat up more, tilting her head in curiosity. Her voice was quiet, but surprisingly strong as she spoke up. "Where am I?"
Something was really different about this kid. Something really. He bent closer, giving her a poke and a long sniff. His black eyes widened suddenly in astonishment and he proclaimed, in a naturally gruff voice, that: "You're living!"
"Huh?" She rose up on her knees, returning the favor of sniffing him too before continuing. "What's that supposed to mean? And where am I?" She looked around in curiosity.
This bit of info made things all the more intriguing, and he was silently wondering about her mannerisms and why the hell she didn't seem scared at the sight of him, or their odd surroundings. "How did you get 'here'?"
"I don't know, really. I know I wasn't here last night." She placed a tiny finger on the side of her face, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"Hey, how'd you get that?" He asked suddenly, pointing to a large bruise coloring her pale cheek.
Her hand flew up to her face, covering the ugly mar, and she wordlessly gazed at him, lips parted. "What?" His eyes somewhat narrowed, confused as she merely stared up at him in wonder.
"Nobody's ever asked me." Her voice grew quieter and he blinked, then decided against asking further.
"Look, you wanna come inside?"
"Really? Okay!" She said, brightening at once and standing up.
He straightened, leading her inside the crooked house, which almost looked as if it was going to cave in on itself. "I gotta figure out how you got here and how to get you back to where you belong. wherever that it." He added, his voice a bit rougher than usual after a moment's thought.
"But. I don't wanna go back there." She stopped at the door, closing it behind her.
"There?" He raised an eyebrow.
"There. It's bad there." She said simply, her green eyes lowering to the black and purple tiled floor.
"You're not being very helpful, kid." He put his hands on his hips, somewhat exasperated (which probably had to do with the fact that it was awfully early in the morning to try to be sorting out this sort of thing.)
"Nora, my name's Nora." She said, her eyes meeting his again, almost defiantly.
"Nora?" He asked distastefully, although somewhat shocked by the stubbornness of her tone at the same time.
"I don't like it either." The child agreed, somewhat shyly. "It sounds stupid." She stuck out her lower lip in a pout, which he smirked at in amusement. The girl watched as he flopped onto the couch, which groaned loudly in protest. She walked over, climbing up next to him and, gazing up intently, asked. "What's your name?"
"Just call me BJ." He smirked again and she titled her head to the side, seeming to be thoughtfully quiet for a long moment before finally answering.
"Okay."
Again, he was somewhat amused, and he reached over to pull out a decaying phonebook from the table drawer next to him, flipping through the pages thoughtfully as he tried to figure out who he should call.
Nora was quiet for a long time before speaking up again in her strong little voice that seemed too old for her age with the abrupt question: "Will you give me a name?"
"What?" Her face inched closer to his so that she look him better in the eye, her tiny hands resting on his leg to keep her balance.
"You and me both don't like my name, so give me a new one." She explained, almost commanding, a bit of laughter in her eyes.
Closing the phonebook and tossing it onto the table, he placed his elbow on the armrest, tilting his face against his fist thoughtfully. There was a very pregnant pause while the two kept their positions, her eyes fixed on his own before he finally answered. "Nicky, how's that?"
She was still for all of three seconds, then she grinned widely, suddenly throwing her tiny arms around his neck. "I love it!"
His eyes were wide as he watched her pull back. "You're just full of surprises, aren't cha?" Nicky shrugged, still smiling. A yawn broke the grin however, and she shook her head to try to clear it. "Um, can I go back to sleep for a little bit? I'm still kinda tired."
"Alright, fine. Go ahead." She curled up against the opposite arm rest, eyes closing and almost instantly falling back asleep.
The kid had to one of the weirdest people he's ever met. She was still living, yet seemed totally unafraid of the strange and abnormal Netherworld, and trusted him completely from the moment she'd seen him, which was something that NEVER happened, with anyone. She was strong-willed and thoughtful, seeming to be a lot more than just a little girl and every word and expression was completely unexpected, keeping him on his toes. He glanced at the phonebook, then picked it up and replaced it in the drawer. Calling up and trying to figure out the situation he had at the moment could wait.
Nicky rolled over in her sleep, one arm draping down the side of the couch and she smiled in her sleep. Raising his eyebrows thoughtfully, he stood up quietly, heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. 'This could prove to be pretty interesting and worthwhile.' The silent words made Beetlejuice smirk a little, almost a real smile.
***
Man, I am TOO full of weird stuff, comes from having my head infested with funny little mole things that smell like Munster cheese. *A la Homer Simpson* Mmmm, cheeeeeeese... *drools* Well, uh, to get back on the subject, I've just been in a very big Tim Burton mood lately, probably due to the fact that I'm feeling even more creepy than usual, it being so close to Halloween and all. This is me taking a break from Romance to write something sweet for me; It doesn't really matter all that much what everyone else thinks. In fact, I get a little embarrassed when I think about what everyone else might think. I'm often sparked by the strangest things; I just never go through with them, due to the fact that they are quite strange. This story is a prime example of one of my strange ideas that I actually am going through with. So as you review this, just think that, it could be worse, I could be writing lemon crossovers between The Carebears and The Gummi Bears. *snickers* Yeah, there would be the loving, sweet side of the relationship and then the other side would all horny, bouncing here and there and everywheeeereeeee..
Valid note: This is all being written at 1:02 in the morning, mostly due to the fact that I needed a writing break after writing a comp. Dun worry tho, I have intentions of going on with this, granted that it's not butchered by mean review people.
P.S.: Nothing.
Chapter One: What's Your Name?
By: Kichara
***
Disclaimer: Beetlejuice ain't mine, he belongs to one of my own personal gods, Tim Burton. Also, this fic has lotsa angsty stuff in the beginning that will come in from time to time, should be handled carefully, not read while operating heavy machinery, having sex, starting a mongoose-dog farm, or getting your hand dipped in wax at the fair. It should also not be read by men, women, children, senior citizens, corn nuts, epileptic people, Hot Topic stickers, lawn gnomes and several species of squirrels. You've been warned!!! *is hit by a herring* *Looks up.* Man, my serious titles always sound SO corny. *eats herring*
***
"You stupid brat! Get the hell out of here!" She ducked just in time to avoid the plate that came spinning at her head, closing her eyes tightly and whimpering in fright as she heard it shatter, shards of glass raining down on her tiny shoulders. "You little bitch!" He lifted her up by her long mess of blonde hair, causing the child to scream in pain and fear, kicking away instinctively from him.
A sharp jolt of pain against the side of her face made her gasp and open her eyes in surprise, widening as she took in his too-perfect face, twisted in fury. 'He smells bad again.' She realized suddenly, her tiny snub of a nose wrinkling up in distaste. He tossed her to the floor, thundering, "Go to your room!"
She did so as fast as she could, retreating from the harsh noise. Upon reaching her destination, she quickly closed the door, tiny fingers twisting the lock and then climbed up onto the bed, wrapping thin arms around her knobby knees and rocking back and forth, humming to herself. 'I don't like it when he smells bad. And Mother too, but she has a different kind of bad smell.' Her mother was as beautiful and perfect as her father. The little girl could see her now, her long blonde hair falling gracefully to her shoulders, bouncing slightly as she'd walk out of her room, traces of smoke trailing from the open door in her wake. The girl heard her father shout, smashing the walls of the hallway. She curled up tighter, eyes widening as she realized he was coming towards her room.
The door slammed open, his figure a daunting shadow in the frame. The child on the bed crouched, frozen in fear as he half-stumbled to her, his words sounding strange as he spoke, "You lil' brat, you can't do anything right, can you?" She squeaked in response, not knowing what he was talking about. "I want to go out with your mum, but she sez we can't, cuz we got you." He loomed closer and she shrank, waiting in fear for. The impact sent her flying off the bed, smashing into the wall. Her father came towards her crumbled figure and she saw his hand raise again, the other fist clutching a dark bottle, and she suddenly sprang to her feet, ducking the blow by instinct, and bolted out the door. She ran down the hall, out into the living room and then ran out the door, going faster as she heard him yelling behind her. 'Run, run, get away. I'm scared!' Her own frantic words sounded in her throbbing head as she grabbed a hold of the front door knob, fumbling in her fear for a moment before she managed to get it open and run outside into the night.
Her feet, clothed only in a pair of socks, hit the sidewalk and she ran across it, across the empty dark street, and ran through the neighbor's yard, past the yard, into another and another, finally collapsing on a strange lawn that she didn't know, clutching her throbbing chest and gasping for air through sobs that wracked her body. The little girl lay there for a long time before she was finally able to stop crying and sit up. 'I don't know where I am, but it's better than being 'there'.' She mused to herself, standing up and starting off into another run. She knew she was moving further and further into a place she didn't know, all the houses around her unfamiliar, but all it meant to her was that she was getting father and farther from 'there'. After a long time, she finally fell, exhausted, in the tall grass of an empty lot, comforted somewhat by the soft grass and the little tickling as insects skittered across her skin. 'I don't wanna be there, don't wanna be there, don't wanna.' Her thoughts broke off as she slipped into a deep slumber.
The silent words and the strong will that spoke them did not go unheard.
Large black eyes opened, settling on the sleeping girl and a thin pair of lips sighed painfully, then pursed in thoughtfulness before dematerializing. It was a spirit, a wandering soul that liked to spend her time drifting among the living, finding fulfillment in helping when she could. And she wanted to help now. Unseen hands drifted to an invisible chest, clenching together in thought. 'I need to send her somewhere, to someone that needs her as much as she needs them. Things can be worked out from there.' She reached out, searching for such a soul, unknowing of names as she searched, who they were or where they were, only needing to find that particular soul that. "There." She realized aloud, the word only the faintest whisper carried by the wind, as her mind caught onto the soul she was looking for.
The spirit drifted closer, her hands materializing as she reached for the little girl, whose pale face was highlighted by the faint shimmer of the sun that was beginning to light the sky. Long, slender fingers touched her cheeks; the face becoming more highlighted as a glow surrounded the spirit, her lips murmuring words of a spell. Incredibly strong powers that were usually dormant were brought forward now, filling the air around the two. The little girl began to fade, her body disappearing until all that was left to say she had been there was some bent grass that was slightly warmed from her body heat.
The spirit faded again, her energy spent, and she drifted off, exhausted. She quickly found a place to rest the attic of a family that had gone on vacation and immediately curled up in an old trunk, smiling to herself as she melded into dreams. 'May you find happiness, child.' She thought, and almost instantly fell asleep.
***
The loud shrill of the alarm woke the room's slumbering figure, who groaned in protest, reaching out to grab a hold of the clock and pitch it across the room. It made a funny crunching noise as it made close contact with the wall, it's noise finally stopping. The figure yawned loudly, stretched languidly and sat up in the coffin-bed. He fisted his eyes as he got up and trudged sleepily across the bedroom floor and into the bathroom, where he splashed cold water on his face. More awake now, he grinned at his reflection for a moment, heading out of the room and through the house, intent on going to get the paper as he opened the front door.
However, the plans were cut short at the sight of a tiny creature on his front lawn. His eyes widened immensely in surprise and he moved close, realizing it was a little girl, about five or six years old. Her body was curled in on itself, and there were long tangles of blonde hair spread across her face and trailing over her hand, a tiny fist clutching a few blades of brown grass. Her snub of a nose wrinkled as she began to wake up, then her eyes opened and she blinked. She sat up quickly, looking around her and then up at him, taking him in with thoughtful emerald-green orbs.
He was tall, and lanky, with an exceptionally pale face that was blotched with darkness, his eyes ringed in black. Wild, green-yellow hair stood up on it's own from his head and one of the eyebrows that were the same color were raised in confusion as he bent over slightly to look her in the eye. He was dressed in a pair of black pajamas that were littered with an army of white spiders.
The girl sat up more, tilting her head in curiosity. Her voice was quiet, but surprisingly strong as she spoke up. "Where am I?"
Something was really different about this kid. Something really. He bent closer, giving her a poke and a long sniff. His black eyes widened suddenly in astonishment and he proclaimed, in a naturally gruff voice, that: "You're living!"
"Huh?" She rose up on her knees, returning the favor of sniffing him too before continuing. "What's that supposed to mean? And where am I?" She looked around in curiosity.
This bit of info made things all the more intriguing, and he was silently wondering about her mannerisms and why the hell she didn't seem scared at the sight of him, or their odd surroundings. "How did you get 'here'?"
"I don't know, really. I know I wasn't here last night." She placed a tiny finger on the side of her face, pursing her lips thoughtfully.
"Hey, how'd you get that?" He asked suddenly, pointing to a large bruise coloring her pale cheek.
Her hand flew up to her face, covering the ugly mar, and she wordlessly gazed at him, lips parted. "What?" His eyes somewhat narrowed, confused as she merely stared up at him in wonder.
"Nobody's ever asked me." Her voice grew quieter and he blinked, then decided against asking further.
"Look, you wanna come inside?"
"Really? Okay!" She said, brightening at once and standing up.
He straightened, leading her inside the crooked house, which almost looked as if it was going to cave in on itself. "I gotta figure out how you got here and how to get you back to where you belong. wherever that it." He added, his voice a bit rougher than usual after a moment's thought.
"But. I don't wanna go back there." She stopped at the door, closing it behind her.
"There?" He raised an eyebrow.
"There. It's bad there." She said simply, her green eyes lowering to the black and purple tiled floor.
"You're not being very helpful, kid." He put his hands on his hips, somewhat exasperated (which probably had to do with the fact that it was awfully early in the morning to try to be sorting out this sort of thing.)
"Nora, my name's Nora." She said, her eyes meeting his again, almost defiantly.
"Nora?" He asked distastefully, although somewhat shocked by the stubbornness of her tone at the same time.
"I don't like it either." The child agreed, somewhat shyly. "It sounds stupid." She stuck out her lower lip in a pout, which he smirked at in amusement. The girl watched as he flopped onto the couch, which groaned loudly in protest. She walked over, climbing up next to him and, gazing up intently, asked. "What's your name?"
"Just call me BJ." He smirked again and she titled her head to the side, seeming to be thoughtfully quiet for a long moment before finally answering.
"Okay."
Again, he was somewhat amused, and he reached over to pull out a decaying phonebook from the table drawer next to him, flipping through the pages thoughtfully as he tried to figure out who he should call.
Nora was quiet for a long time before speaking up again in her strong little voice that seemed too old for her age with the abrupt question: "Will you give me a name?"
"What?" Her face inched closer to his so that she look him better in the eye, her tiny hands resting on his leg to keep her balance.
"You and me both don't like my name, so give me a new one." She explained, almost commanding, a bit of laughter in her eyes.
Closing the phonebook and tossing it onto the table, he placed his elbow on the armrest, tilting his face against his fist thoughtfully. There was a very pregnant pause while the two kept their positions, her eyes fixed on his own before he finally answered. "Nicky, how's that?"
She was still for all of three seconds, then she grinned widely, suddenly throwing her tiny arms around his neck. "I love it!"
His eyes were wide as he watched her pull back. "You're just full of surprises, aren't cha?" Nicky shrugged, still smiling. A yawn broke the grin however, and she shook her head to try to clear it. "Um, can I go back to sleep for a little bit? I'm still kinda tired."
"Alright, fine. Go ahead." She curled up against the opposite arm rest, eyes closing and almost instantly falling back asleep.
The kid had to one of the weirdest people he's ever met. She was still living, yet seemed totally unafraid of the strange and abnormal Netherworld, and trusted him completely from the moment she'd seen him, which was something that NEVER happened, with anyone. She was strong-willed and thoughtful, seeming to be a lot more than just a little girl and every word and expression was completely unexpected, keeping him on his toes. He glanced at the phonebook, then picked it up and replaced it in the drawer. Calling up and trying to figure out the situation he had at the moment could wait.
Nicky rolled over in her sleep, one arm draping down the side of the couch and she smiled in her sleep. Raising his eyebrows thoughtfully, he stood up quietly, heading to the kitchen to make some coffee. 'This could prove to be pretty interesting and worthwhile.' The silent words made Beetlejuice smirk a little, almost a real smile.
***
Man, I am TOO full of weird stuff, comes from having my head infested with funny little mole things that smell like Munster cheese. *A la Homer Simpson* Mmmm, cheeeeeeese... *drools* Well, uh, to get back on the subject, I've just been in a very big Tim Burton mood lately, probably due to the fact that I'm feeling even more creepy than usual, it being so close to Halloween and all. This is me taking a break from Romance to write something sweet for me; It doesn't really matter all that much what everyone else thinks. In fact, I get a little embarrassed when I think about what everyone else might think. I'm often sparked by the strangest things; I just never go through with them, due to the fact that they are quite strange. This story is a prime example of one of my strange ideas that I actually am going through with. So as you review this, just think that, it could be worse, I could be writing lemon crossovers between The Carebears and The Gummi Bears. *snickers* Yeah, there would be the loving, sweet side of the relationship and then the other side would all horny, bouncing here and there and everywheeeereeeee..
Valid note: This is all being written at 1:02 in the morning, mostly due to the fact that I needed a writing break after writing a comp. Dun worry tho, I have intentions of going on with this, granted that it's not butchered by mean review people.
P.S.: Nothing.
